The owner and founder of All-Pro Tae Kwon Do in Los Gatos, California is Grandmaster Andrew Fanelli. There’s no doubt that Grandmaster Fanelli is an exceptional teacher in the art for anybody looking to learn how to be committed. With over 40 years of expertise, he’s the best instructor in the business.
Grandmaster Fanelli was born and raised in Los Gatos, California, into a large Italian family. He undoubtedly learned how to fight for his place from an early age, as he was one of seven children. Grandmaster Fanelli’s father was a professional boxer, and it was through him that he became interested in Martial Arts. Grandmaster Fanelli trained at Garden City Boxing Club in downtown San Jose for 5 years. However, in 1982 when Grandmaster Fanelli’s mother enrolled his younger brother in Tae Kwon Do, Andrew was drawn to the art. Tae Kwon Do began to pique his interest much more than boxing. His mother agreed to let him join in 1982, with his father’s blessing too.
As Grandmaster Fanelli aged and improved, he was confronted with more complex real-world decisions that didn’t always provide an easy answer. Grandmaster Fanelli began working with his father, who had a background in the environmental sector when he was just 13 years old. Then, he worked his first job, outside of his father’s business. Starting in 1996, he worked in high-tech security and private investigation. However, it quickly became clear that this was not his true passion.
When Grandmaster Fanelli opened his Tae Kwon Do studio in April of 1997, he worked as the only instructor and ran the business on his own. The 30-40 hours he spent working at the studio were in addition to the full-time job he still held working high-tech security and private investigation. He continued this for 3 years until he decided to focus his undivided attention on his business and passion: All-Pro Tae Kwon Do in January 2000.
In 2012, Grandmaster Fanelli was honored with induction into the master’s Hall of Fame in Costa Mesa, California. In 2008, the “Town of Los Gatos” named Grandmaster Fanelli “Los Gatos Businessman of the Year. In September 2009 Grandmaster Fanelli was on the front cover of the “Tae Kwon Do Times Magazine”.
Grandmaster Andrew Fanelli’s All Pro Tae Kwon Do, an award-winning and top Martial Arts, Family & Fitness Studio in Los Gatos offers a complete range of Martial Arts lessons. Since April 28, 1997, lessons have included Tae Kwon Do (ITF), paired with modern Tae Kwon Do (WTF), Muay Thai (Thai Boxing), Boxing, Cardio Kickboxing, and Self-Defense Instructors are extremely knowledgeable, encouraging, and enthusiastic. Men, women, and children are encouraged to participate.
Where did the idea for All-Pro Tae Kwon Do come from?
I was born and reared in Los Gatos, California, into a large Italian family. My father was a professional boxer, and it was through him that I became interested in Martial Arts. I trained at Garden City Boxing Club in downtown San Jose for 5 years. However, in 1982 when my mother enrolled my younger brother in Tae Kwon Do, I was drawn to the art. Since that moment, I have stayed on this path of keeping Tae Kwon Do at the forefront of my life, the pinnacle of which was opening my own studio which I have now had for 25 years.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I typically spend anywhere from 30-40 hours a week at the studio. This includes teaching, training with my students, and administrative work. Martial Arts is not just a job for me, it is my passion and life’s work. I also make it a point to get adequate sleep and eat healthy foods so that I am in peak condition to teach and train. I also try to spend time with my family whenever possible.
How do you bring ideas to life?
The trend that most excites me is the increasing popularity of Martial Arts. It is wonderful to see people from all walks of life benefiting from the discipline, focus, and physical activity that come with training in Martial Arts.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The trend that most excites me is the increasing popularity of Martial Arts. It is wonderful to see people from all walks of life benefiting from the discipline, focus, and physical activity that come with training in Martial Arts.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
One habit that I have cultivated over the years is to always stay positive and focused. This has helped me to stay motivated and productive in my work as an entrepreneur. It is important to remember that there will always be bumps in the road, but with a positive attitude and perseverance, anything can be accomplished.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would advise my younger self to never give up on his dreams and to always stay positive and focused. A lot can be accomplished with a little bit of hard work and perseverance.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
One thing that is true that few people agree with me on is that Martial Arts is for everyone, regardless of age, sex, or physical ability. I have seen people of all ages and abilities benefit from training in Martial Arts. It is a wonderful activity that can improve your overall health and well-being.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
The one thing I do as an entrepreneur that I recommend others do is to always stay positive and focused. There will always be bumps in the road, but with a positive attitude and perseverance, anything can be accomplished.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
One strategy that has helped me grow my business is to always focus on the customer. I make it a point to listen to my students and customers and try to accommodate their needs as best as possible. This has helped me to build a loyal following over the years.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
One thing I wish I had done differently was to start focusing on All Pro Tae Kwon Do full time sooner. I hesitated to quit my other full-time job longer than I really needed to.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
One business idea that I am willing to give away to our readers is to start a Martial Arts school. This is a great way to get into the Martial Arts industry and help people of all ages improve their health and well-being.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
The best $100 I recently spent was on a new set of training gloves. I had been using the same gloves for a while and they were starting to show signs of wear and tear. A new set of gloves will help me to train harder and longer.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
One piece of software that I use to be productive is Evernote. I use it to take notes and store articles and other information that I may need later. This helps me to stay organized and efficient.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
The one book that I recommend our community should read is The Lean Startup. This book discusses the importance of agility and innovation in business. It is a great read for entrepreneurs who want to start and grow their businesses.
What is your favorite quote?
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” -Steve Jobs. This quote resonates with me because it is important to find meaning in your work and to love what you do. This will help you to be more productive and achieve great things.
Key Learnings:
- Stay positive and focused
- Focus on the customer
- Don’t hesitate to follow your passion full time
Steve (Stefan) Junge hails from Germany and helps with the day-to-day publishing of interviews on IdeaMensch. While he and Mario don’t share a favorite soccer club, their enthusiasm to help entrepreneurs is a shared passion.